For today I got to have the final check on my wedding dress to make sure it still fitted and I still liked it.

I had my chief bridesmaid come with me, for an emotional reaction test, I knew she was excited to see what it looked like, and I had some bits and bobs I wanted to try with the dress.

I had bought my veil online from www.lightinthebox.com, more as a test than anything else, for not nearly the price that veils were being sold at in bridal shops! And I loved it. I would have to attach the beads on more securely, but that’s something to do in the week leading up to the wedding, and it was the perfect length for me!!

I also tried out the glorious bridal shoes I bought from Debenhams, with associated heel grips to stay on!

I seriously couldn’t love them more, as when I tried on the dress, try we’re the perfect height for my toe to just poke out the bottom of the dress as I stepped forward. Couldn’t have picked a better pair!

And my CB was also ending the right emotional signals, almost crying at how pretty and beautiful I looked. It’s not often I get to blow my own trumpet at such, but I think there is a requirement on your wedding day! And I loved how I looked. And it just felt amazing to wear.

Today was also the day Charlie got his groomsmen suits sorted. It’s all coming together now! 60 days 🙂 and we have just signed our contract for temporary accommodation here in Cheltenham before the big move to Milton Keynes.

Today has been a good day. An exciting day.

I’m regards to the tan lines comment in the title, I became very aware, just as the weather perked up enough for me to consider leaving my hoodie at home, that I had a strapless wedding dress. Where the only part of my skin visible would be my shoulders, arms and head. The bits that are very sensitive to THE TSHIRT TAN. Now, not to be dramatic, but I’m now doing a rain Dance. Every morning, after I clean my face.

I have wisely invested in some strapless tops to wear if I know the jumpers will be coming off, I also wear no bracelets.

The only tan line I don’t mind being visible now is the one my engagement ring will make when I have my wedding ring put on my finger, but I think that’s an ok one to have on your wedding day!

Well I’ve suddenly got the wedding prep panic with just over 60 days to go (Ah!)

For the past few days I have been religiously sticking to a facial plan, to try and keep breakouts down, and make my skin as clear and pretty as I can make it!

Here are my tools of the trade as such, the full shabang! I don’t use everything once a day, but I use some twice a day.

Here is my routine:

Step one

This is my face wash (not scrub) and a scrubbing pad, step one! Ive never had an experience with a scrub that didn’t end in something going in my eye or me using half the bottle to feel clean, so the face wash and the scrubbing pad allows me to be as gentle or rough as I like, depending on if I’m wearing makeup or not. Once I’ve scrubbed the day of my face, I use a flannel to clean off the soap, none of this splashing face stuff! Luke warm water, and wipe off. Means I don’t miss anything.

Step two

Step two is the face mask. Not to be done everyday, but once a week. I love this No.7 mask! Simple and warming, I put about half a brazil but size blob, and rub in from the nose out, round the eyes, forehead and t zone, before doing cheeks and chin. Then again with the flannel and warm water and wipe off. Skin feels soft afterwards. I would avoid using it if you have any broken skin, as it can cause irritation.

Step three

Step three is the seaweed cleanser from the body shop. I use this to cool my face after the scrub and the face mask, I put a pea size amount on a cotton pad and work from the nose round the eyes, t zone, cheeks and chin. I will brush lightly round the eyes to take the flaky bits of eye make up and dust off. This is a very gentle clean and I would recommend if you are feeling a bit flustered and hit after being in the sun!

Step four

Step four is the camomile eye make up remover. Less is more with this product from the body shop, a couple of drops on a cotton pad and ensure you clean up and down the lashes. Works gently and well. Key purchase in my book!

Step five

Step five is the good old Clearasil deep cleansing toner. Gets all the nitty gritty dirt out, try not to go over the eyes as it stings a bit! Make sure you follow just below the jaw line as well and a sweep over and behind the ears wouldn’t go amiss as well! Only about 3 drops needed on a cotton pad again. A little goes a long way.

I tend to use the toner when I wake up as well, especially when it’s hot! I will only use a tiny bit of moisturiser in the morning as well, if I’m only wearing mascara anyway. If I decide on a full face of makeup I use the body shop primer. But the makeup will be for another blog post 🙂

In regards to showers, I will do my routine, except the moisturising. I have an old face scrub (boo), seaweed from the body shop, that I use to wash any shampoo and stuff off my face that may have got there. Just to try and stop my skin from drying out.

My skin feels amazing right now and I’m sure I will update you if I discover any other stages. But out of all the prep that’s going on, it’s nice to have a bit of routine to go on, which, when it comes to wedding nerves, can be very reassuring!

Feeling alright 🙂 it’s been a bad week this week for eating, but I did do 3 different classes so I think that’s ok?

Anyway, still got alot on my plate, wedding planning, moving, job hunting. But we have seen a couple of short term lets around, so it’s not the end yet!

If all else fails I’m sure we will be taken in by some family (we hope….)

In regards to wedding planning, I am trying to slowly complete the names for the place settings, and the table names. Just trying to look at examples and to try and not make them look rubbish. Got some favours stuff going on as well, and the table centre pieces are coming along, we have to tell the registry office all our details for the ceremony in the next couple of weeks, so that’s a job for the weekend!

Off for a factory tour around Lotus F1 tomorrow, so we are very excited! Then back to chelters where we are planning a Nandos. 🙂

Looking forward to tomorrow! And the weekend, we get to pick wedding music for the bit when guests are arriving. Does anyone have any suggestions?

O you’re here reading? Fair enough, I’ll enlighten you on a few things:

Charlie is starting a masters in Milton Keynes in October, I’m starting it the year later [YAY]

We have to move to Milton Keynes between now and October [EASY]

We are getting married in August [YAY]

Honeymoon in September [YAY]

Need to find a new job [NO BIGGIE]

We have to move out of this flat by June 21st [OK THATS MANAGEABLE]

Our invite RSVP deadline is June 21st [FORWARD IT YOU IDIOT]

Charlie finishes his current course on June 21st [OK..]

Nowhere in Cheltenham does a 12 week let that isn’t a holiday let or a bedsit [AWKWARD]

It’s currently 7 weeks till we have to move out [GETTING CLOSE]

We have to move out on a Friday [ARGH]

All of this would be fine if our landlords weren’t the worst organisation on the planet. They are not registered with any governing body, nor do they seem to understand that people live in the flat, hence it may not be in ‘pristine conditiong’ upon inspection. All their staff are miserable with horrific customer service/relation skills. As soon as we get our instructions for never having to talk to the poor excuse for a letting agent, they will be getting a complaint. I don’t care that we have to move out, it’s the owners decision to want to sell on. But we have been patronised and bullied to the point that I got ill I was so stressed out.

Apparently forgetting to hoover and using the toilet is grounds for them to inspect us again? UGH. Now wonder there were no agency fees, I would feel sick having to pay for any of their services.

Most of the wedding stuff is now organised! It is literally just minor details, and paying! We are getting RSVPs in and all is well 🙂 I have just found out as well that I can get ready at the venue, which is a massive load off my mind!

It is just our living arrangements now, if I had a job we would just move to MK sooner, but interviews/applications and everything take time.

Well I sit here on a Sunday night, safe in the comfort that my flower arrangements have been requested and I am now waiting on a quote 🙂

Things are getting ticked off the list very rapidly! Just got to sort out the invitations now then the big stresses are outta the way, and we just have to work on paying it!!

The next big thing on my list is getting back into shape. Having been silently tormented by every picture taken of me in the past few months, my new gym time is starting. First things first is a program to get me running for 30mins, that’s 8 weeks long, and I plan on working till my muscles hurt. I’ve got me #RunIntoOrbit challenge, and I just want to get for again. It’s a bit frustrating that there are no Netball clubs in Cheltenham that I can really join, and what little skill I had at hockey doesn’t justify me joining a local club. Swimming may be on the cards though! Once a week that would be good to get my strength up 🙂

I just want my cake shelf do go and I think I will be a happy person 🙂

Today is the first meeting with the caterers for our wedding. Because if the deal we have, we have a limited menu, but there is stuff we like at least!

Choosing the stuff we like isn’t really an issue, it’s more those with all their dietary requirements, and those who are fussy. I.e. veggies. Whatever you call them, anybody who can’t have, or doesn’t like what’s on our menu, is annoying. And there will be people!!! It’s not that I don’t like these people, intact I love them enough to invite them to our wedding! But any path off the easy route is just going to bug me.

We have questions for the. Caterers today, about seating plane and table numbers and payments… It’s going to be an interesting meeting to say the least.

At least we are bucking the trend of normal table service and NOT having chicken… It’s a surprise!!!!

Today is the start of something new. In the next few days I will be sorting through my blog and making it more streamlined. I’ve moved away from my initial F1 blog, into more of a life blog.

That’s the route I will continue to pursue. It’s going to include:

Running

Fitness

F1

Science

Wedding!

Generic opinions that you may or may not care about

Pretty much what I’ve been doing.. Well, did in October. I’m going to be doing this to just vent I think! And show off a bit. Sometimes writing stuff down helps you not be a prat to the people you know, as you’ve already got it out there!

I need a phrase, a life hash tag if you will for this year, but I don’t think I can stick to one! It may have to be a few, like #BrideToBe and #RunIntoOrbit. Hmm that sounds good actually!!! That may be a plan for my running. Then there are the other generic #F1 tags and things. You can follow me on Twitter @HarriParf

Anyway, I’m hungover and I will be starting everything on Monday properly. But go to the gym some point this week to get back into the flow and all that. Now to play the Sims 3 and watch the LOTR.

So yes, everything is rolling now. The wedding has been booked and I am now on my ‘get ready, set go!’ routine, which involves a stricter diet (yeah I caved in on two for tuesdays. But only had half a pizza and cookies… and garlic bread, to be fair i’ve been good all day!) Gymming three time a week, and choosing the final details about the wedding!

i have also taken it upon myself to learn python, though the edX program, my course is run by MIT and it’s quite challenging. It advises users that you will need 12 hours a week to complete the course, however I definately spent 12 hours just on the problem sheets this week! It would have been less, however their systems don’t like slow code. And mine was slow… it got to the right answer! just… slow. Who knew that a ‘for’ loop did the same as ‘month=0, run though everything until month=12’.

Still at least I’m learning!

It’s pretty hard at the moment, i’ve got a lot of things to look after. Washing, Washing up, wedding, making the bed, cleaning the bathrooms, studying, working, going to the gym, cleaning up… It adds up in a day. Not to mention the tutoring I do twice a week.

Stress levels are through the roof at the moment, BUT. I have a long weekend at the end of October. Which includes wedding dress shopping!!!

All I’m hoping is the next few weeks are just smooth. I don’t think I can cope with any major/big upset. Or change.

Who am I kidding? I just want my blanket and to stay in bed all day. blah!

After having a massive adreneline come down I have been a bit of a mess for a couple of days, but mainly because I get to now plan plan plan!! Guest list is pretty much done and we know what we want – including what cake! It’s now just a question of saving and paying and booking. EASY now that we have a venue!

Today I also joined the gym. And did a weigh in since I got my new scales from Argos.

Last weigh in was 81.3kg (yeah.. the nurse was shocked at this number as well because I don’t look like it) today I weighed in at 79.5kg 🙂 small steps! But now I have the gym membership, I can escape a few times a week and blast out my frustrations from work and everything. It also means I will start toning up quicker. Something I am sure everyone who is working out wants to see!!

So 10 months t0 go! Ideally 7 months to get in shape and I’m sure many more stressful blog posts to come!